[Wikipedia-l] Wikipedia.ru & Wikimedia.de

[Tomasz Wegrzanowski]

On Mon, Sep 08, 2003 at 02:22:09AM -0400, Alex R. wrote:
> From: "Erik Moeller" <erik_moeller at gmx.de>
> 
> > Using trademarks to restrain non-commercial activity is always wrong -- 
> 
> Sorry this is clearly cofused thinking. Trademarks can be used to restrain
> the misattribution of non-commercial activity. Trademark infringment laws
> do not restrain commerce, they prevent people from using the marks that
> identify the product of another. If they remove the trademark there is
> no restraint. Trademark law only restains the use of trademarks, nothing
> else. Non commercial groups have just as much right to these things, take
> the Olympics for example, should everyone be allowed to name a sports
> competition after the Olympics? Allow that will make people very
> confused. Ultimately it is about protecting the general public, more so
> with nonprofits, than protecting proprietary interests..

"Olympics" is a good example of USA-specific trademark.
In Poland everyone can call anything "Olimpiada" and they often do.